Pecan picker



nited States atent ffice PECAN PICKER Lee Roy Poch, Port Arthur, Tex.

Application October 24, 1955, Serial N o. 542,221

4 Claims. (Cl. 56-328) The invention relates to a pecan picker, and itconcerns more particularly a hand tool for use in picking up pecans.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pecan picker which isunusually effective in use, and which can be manipulated with a minimumof effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pecan picker which is ofsimple, rugged construction, has no moving parts, is inexpensive fromthe standpoint of its manufacturing cost, and may be used indefinitely.

The invention contemplates a pecan picker having a basket-like structureand which is capable of receiving a quantity of pecans, so that it isnecessary to remove the pecans from the device only at convenientintervals.

The pecan picker of the invention is capable of being used for pickingup other nuts, as well as pecans, and for picking up similar objects ofany kind. The size and shape of the nut or object may vary considerablywithout affecting the operation of the device. When used for pickingpecans, the device is capable of separating a pecan from its outer hulland selectively picking up the pecan only.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pecan pickerembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the pecan picker shown inFig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken at right anglesto the view shown in Pig. l.

Referring to the drawing, the pecan picker of the invention comprises ahelical coil of wire 1, which advantageously may be formed of aluminum.The coil 1 is folded upon itself at a point substantially equallydistant from its ends, so that the end portions thereof are arrangedside by side. The juxtaposed edge portions comprising one side of thecoil 1 are arranged in a substantially straight line, and the oppositeside of the coil 1 is curved outwardly from the middle toward the endsthereof. The several loops comprising the coil 1 are spaced closelytogether adjacent the juxtaposed edge portions comprising one side ofthe coil 1, and are spaced apart adjacent their opposite sides.

The coil 1 is retained in the position described by clamping meanscomprising an elongated metal strip 2, which is folded upon itselfintermediate its ends and is applied to the coil 1 with the opposedsurfaces of the strip 2 in engagement with opposite sides of thejuxtaposed edge portions of the coil 1. The folded strip 2 is secured inclamping engagement with the coil 1 by fastening means comprising a pairof rivets 3, which are passed thru aligned openings provided therefor inthe opposed end portions of the strip 2. The ends of the folded strip 2extend outwardly beyond the ends of the coil 1, and are rigidlyconnected to one end of a collar 4. An elongated handle 5, which has oneend thereof received in the collar 4 and rigidly connected thereto, isaligned with the folded strip 2 and extends outwardly therefrom.

The arrangement of the coil 1, as above described, is such that abasket-like structure is provided which is capable of receiving aquantity of pecans or other nuts, indicated by the numeral 6, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. In picking up the nuts 6 from the ground, which isdesignated by the numeral 7, as shown in Fig. 3, the basketlikestructure comprising the coil 1 is pressed downwardly against a nut 6,by manipulation of the handle 5. The nut 6 is thus caused to passbetween two adjacent loops of the coil 1, which are characterized bytheir resilience and are capable of being spread apart by the action ofthe nut 6.

The material of the coil 1 preferably is such that while the adjacentloops of the coil 1 are yieldably retained in their normal spacedrelation to each other, so that they are capable of applying pressure toopposite sides of the nut 6, such pressure is insufiicient to catapultthe nut 6 over the top of the basket-like structure when the pressure isreleased.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

l. A pecan picker comprising a basket-like structure consisting of ahelical coil of Wire folded upon itself at a point substantially equallydistant from its ends so that the end portions thereof are arranged sideby side, the juxtaposed edge portions comprising one side of the coilbeing arranged in a substantially straight line and the opposite side ofthe coil being curved outwardly from the middle toward the ends thereof,the several loops comprising the coil being spaced closely togetheradjacent the juxtaposed edge portions comprising one side of the coiland being spaced apart adjacent their opposite sides, and an elongatedhandle connected at one end to the basket-like structure.

2. A pecan picker as described in claim 1 in which the adjacent loops ofthe coil are characterized by their resilience and are capable of beingspread apart, upon pressing the basket-like structure against a nut, bythe action of the nut, the material of the coil being such that whilethe adjacent loops of the coil are yieldably retained in their normalspaced relation to each other, so that they are capable of applyingpressure to opposite sides of the nut, such pressure is insuflicient tocatapult the nut over the top of the basket-like structure when thepressure is released.

3. A pecan picker as described in claim l having clamping means actingupon opposite sides of the juxtaposed edge portions of the coil wherebythe coil is retained in the position described, and in which the handleis rigidly connected at one end to the clamping means and extendsoutwardly from the ends of the coil.

4. A pecan picker as described in claim 1 having clamping meanscomprising an elongated metal strip folded upon itself intermediate itsends and applied to the coil with the opposed surfaces of the strip inengagement with opposite sides of the juxtaposed edge portions of thecoil, the ends of the folded strip extending outwardly beyond the endsof the coil, and means connecting one end of the handle to the ends ofthe strip, the handle being aligned with the folded strip and extendingoutwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS721,196 Jeffreys Feb. 24, 1903 928,284 Selsor July 20, 1909 2,540,857Bagley Feb. 6, 1951 2,736,157 Weathersby Feb. 28, 1956

